Legal Separation – Court ruling on division of property, spousal support, and responsibility to children when a couple wishes to separate but not divorce. A legal separation is most often desired for religious or medical reasons. A decree of legal separation does not dissolve the marriage and does not allow the parties to remarry.

Lis Pendens – A piece of property cannot be transferred during a pending lawsuit that may change the disposition of it, once a notice has been filed in the public record.

Litigation – The process by which a civil case settles parties’ right.